USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lebanon > History of Lebanon, N.H., 1761-1887 > Part 14
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Resolved that the Legislature during their present meeting will make Provision for Granting to Colo Timothy Church, Major William Shat- tuck, Major Henry Evans and about one hundred other Persons whom they represent, a Quantity of Vacant Lands equal to a Township of eight miles square .- Documentary History of New York, Vol. 4, p. 1017.
The township thus granted was situated on the Susquehanna River, and is now known as Bainbridge.
In closing the account of this remarkable controversy, loyalty to historical truth demands that certain statements should be made in behalf of the state of New York.
1. That the territory of Vermont was within the grant to the Duke of York, first made in 1663, regranted or confirmed in 1674, of which the Connecticut River was the eastern boundary.
2. If the validity of this grant be questioned, then by the deci- sion of the king in council, in 1764, this boundary of the province of New York was made certain. New York had precisely the same title to the territory of Vermont that other colonies had to their territory-royal authority.
3. The province of New York made the following offers :
That all persons actually possessing and improving lands by title under grants from New Hampshire or Massachusetts bay, and not granted under New York shall be confirmed in their respective posses- sions
That where lands have heretofore been granted by New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay or either of them and actually possessed in con- sequence thereof, and being so possessed, were, afterwards granted by New York, such possessions shall be confirmed; the posterior grant un- der New York, notwithstanding .- Documentary History of New York, Vol. 4, p. 953.
It is admitted in a proclamation of the state of New York that in some of the grants of that state as a province "the interest of the servants of the crown and of new adventurers was, in many instances contrary to justice and policy ; that many
142
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
of the grantees labor under grievances arising from causes above mentioned, which, in some measure, extenuate their offence and which ought to be redressed."
4. While the inhabitants of Vermont suffered from the greed of some of the New Yorkers, the Vermonters themselves were unjustifiable in their opposition to the authority of the state of New York, because the soil belonged to that state.
The Vermonters treated with great harshness and cruelty the subjects of New York. They speak with apparent gaiety and glee of applying the Beech Seal to those who took grants from New York. What the beech seal was, and its mode of applica- tion, may be gathered from the following statements, made under oath.
Benjamin Hough, a magistrate under the authority of the state of New York, under the authority of a self-constituted court of Vermonters, was sentenced to be
Tyed up to a tree, and receive two hundred lashes upon the naked Back that thereupon the Deponent immediately had his Clothes taken off and he was stripped to the skin and four persons being by the said pretended Court appointed to carry the said sen- tence into Execution This Deponent accordingly received the two hun- dred lashes on his naked Back with whips of cords .- Documentary His- tory of New York, Vol. 4, p. 896.
Daniel Walker being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God deposed in part that a few days afterwards he met with the above said Hough. That the said Benjamin Hough showed him his naked back, which was then sore and appeared to have been much cut and wounded and the waistcoat which he then wore was stiff with Blood.
Another part of the sentence of this Hough was that "as soon as he should be able, should depart the New Hampshire Grants, and not return again upon pain of receiving five hundred lashes."
One of the offenses charged against this man was that "he had taken a commission of the peace under the government of New York and exercised his office as a magistrate for the County of Charlotte alleging that this deponent well knew that they did not allow of any Magistrate there." They did not charge him with any injustice in the exercise of his office. His offense was that he had accepted a commission from the state of New York .- Documentary History of New York, Vol. 4, p. 896.
143
THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY.
For some time after the dissolution of the union with Vermont the town remained independent. They were not ready to return to their allegiance with New Hampshire; not until they could make acceptable terms with that state.
Aug 12 1782. Query whether they will Raife the Nine men sent for by the State of New Hampshire to Join the Continental Army? Refolv'd in the Negative
3rd Whether they will Raife one man for The Defence of the Fron- tiers to serve as a Soldier till Novr. next? Refolv'd in the Negative
4th Whether they will Raife the sum of ££914-13-4 Demanded by the State of New Hampshire? Refolved in the Negative
5th Whether they will Choofe one or two men to Set in Convention at Concord in the afore S'd state to affist In forming a Constitution for S'd State of New Hampshire? Resolvd in ye Affir
6th Chofe John Wheatley to Reprefent The town of Lebanon in s'd Convention for the purpofe aforesd
The sum demanded by New Hampshire was arrearage of taxes. This they declined to pay, on the ground that they did not belong to that state, and also because all this time they had been rais- ing and paying soldiers at their own expense.
They were willing, however, to send a delegate to the conven- tion for forming a new constitution, because some of the provi- sions of the constitution under which the state had been acting since the Revolution was one of the grievances which had first alienated them from New Hampshire. If things could be made better for them, they were willing to assist.
But apparently affairs did not proceed to suit them, for at a meeting September 24, 1782, they voted to recall their represen- tative chosen to represent the town in convention at Concord, in the state of New Hampshire. Ten days later they reconsidered this last vote.
By November the town had received the constitution and ap- pointed a committee to examine and report upon it. November 26, 1782, they voted to recall their representative from the con- vention, the proposed constitution not appearing satisfactory to them.
The town, after many delays, after conventions of other towns held at Hanover, after sending agents to the assembly, after re- monstrances and petitions, finally took its place as a town in the state of New Hampshire.
1
Development of the Town.
During all these years of disturbance and distraction con- cerning its state relations, the town has been steadily improving. Old roads were made better, new roads were laid out and built, bridges were built over the Mascoma at various points, one in this village, one near Walter Peck's, another at Davison's mills, an- other still on the river road.
All this time the town had been gaining in inhabitants. The close of the Revolution brought many accessions of the best ma- terial. New names are found upon the records, and prominent in town affairs-the Allens, Phinehas and Diarca; Gideon Baker, the Huntingtons, Stephen Billings, Thomas Blake, Walter Hains, Arad Simons, Zuar Eldredge, Nathan Durkee. Col. Elisha Payne, coming here from Orange, was a valuable acquisition to the town. The proprietors made him valuable grants of land in the east part of the town in 1778, "on conditions that the said Payne, his heirs or assigns shall build and erect a good sawmill & grist- mill on the Mascomme river near to the place where said river empties out of the pond, within two years from the first day of April next [April, 1778] except the publick commotions and present wars shall render it impracticable, in which case they shall be built as soon as the publick affairs will admit of."
In this same year the proprietors voted to consider the propa- gation lot and the church glebe and a part of the governor's lot as undivided land. They also proceeded to lot all of the undi- vided land, making this generous, and it may be presumed ac- ceptable provision, "to allow the committee and surveyor five gallons of rum while laying out said undivided land."
The proprietors also gave liberty to Colonel Payne to erect "a dam across Mascomme river at the mouth of Enfield pond in order to raise said pond sufficient for the use and benefit of the mills which he has undertaken to build."
The undivided land had been laid out into fifty-acre lots and
DIARCA ALLEN.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
145
November 8, 1779, at the house of Nehemiah Estabrook, was drawn as follows:
No
No
Thomas Barrows Jun
1
John Swift
12
Elijah Huntington
38
Daniel Allen Jun
34
Huckins Storrs Jun
6
Robert Barrows Jun
19
David Eldridge
42
Jefse Birchard, by John
Hobart Estabrook
15
Griswold
48
Daniel Blodgett 3d
14
John Allen
37
Thomas Storrs
3
Joseph Wood
5
Charles Hill
18
Moses Hebbard
7
Joshua Blodgett
11
Joseph Turner
51
Nathaniel Porter
9
Jefse Birchard
40
David Turner
33
Jonathan Murdock
36
Joseph Martin
2
John Birchard
16
Robert Martin
25
Daniel Blodgett
8
School Right
20
Minister Right
4
James Nevins
32
Mark H Wentworth
10
Hugh Hall Wentworth
. 41
Clement Jackson
39
John Hyde 30 acres
54
Seth Blodgett 30 acre
53
N. B. The lot No 24 is taken out by Mr. Joseph Wood on the original right of Robert Hyde
N. B. When the draught of the fifty acre Division was drawn in Lebanon, through mistake, there was no lott in said division drawn to the original right of Richard Salter, wherefore the proprietors Commit- tee ordered that the lott No 35 in said division be afsigned to said right Attest
Gideon Baker, Proprietors Clerk
At the same time the proprietors granted a tract of land in the southwest part of the town to "David Hinckley Clothier as an encouragement to him the said David to set up his trade as a Clothier in said Lebanon."
In March, 1780, the proprietors appointed a committee to re- vise the field books of the several divisions of land, and to procure a plan of the township. This plan was made by Lieut. John Payne, "and being duly examined was accepted as correct in general." This plan still exists; that is, the parchment on which it is made does, the lines being faded and in many places entirely defaced. It is endorsed as follows: "This plan is laid down to 100 rods to an inch by John Payne Jun-surveyor."
In 1781 the proprietors made a division of twenty-acre lots, and assigned them by lottery.
10
146
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
June 26, 1780, the town appointed John Wheatley, Elisha Ticknor, Major Griswold, Deacon Estabrook and William Dana a committee "to adjust and put in proper order all the publick expense that the town has been at since the Contest with Great Britain." See page -
At the same time they voted "to lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years the whole of the sequestered right of land for the benefit of schooling in said town."
The town in 1779 had voted three gallons of rum for the rais- ing of a bridge over the Mascoma, this being the only business transacted at that meeting. It appears that in 1781 said rum had not been paid for and hence the selectmen were instructed, March 31, 1781, to include said rum in the taxes to be raised.
May 30, 1781, the town voted to build a pound (the first) near Esquire Hydes, and that Henry Woodward be pound keeper. This pound was on the hill where Henry Farman now lives.
Something of the condition of the town and their way of doing business may be gathered from the following vote :
To raise ten hard dollars, immediately, to bear the Expence of an Agent now going to the Assembly of New Hampshire. Accordingly the following collection was made for the aforesaid purpose. viz:
Gov payne. £1-6-8
Nath! Storrs.
0-6-0
Maj. Griswold
0-6-0
Jesse Cook 0-3-0
Doct Hall. 0-3-0
Abel Wright.
0-1-6
David Hough
0 1-2
Sam1 Lothrop
0-0-3
2-7-7
The hard dollars were specie-at the time exceedingly scarce- and probably hard in another sense.
April 8 1782 Voted that the select men take into their care the money of Vermont Emission now in the town treasury & make the best thereof for the benefit of the town that lyes in their power.
This was a relic of their union with Vermont.
November 26, 1782, there came before the town a proposi- tion which gave them some anxiety. Colonel Payne and some. others proposed to take parts of Lebanon, Enfield and Hanover
147
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
and make them into a town. The town appointed Captain Free- man, Lieutenant Ticknor and Captain Dana a committee to "ex- amine into the matter and report." That report was adverse to the plan.
The following, recently discovered among the papers in the state house, sets forth this plan for a new town :
The petition of Elisha Payne, and others inhabitants of the towns of Lebanon, Hanover Enfield and Canaan humbly shew that their local situation is such, being in the four adjoining corners or parts of said towns, and so remote from the center of the respective towns to which they belong, and the places of holding their town and other publick meetings, that renders it very inconvenient and almost impossable for them to attend, especially on the Sabbath or Lord's day; that the terri- tory of land hereafter described, being about four miles square, is so situated, and the laying of the rhodes through the same such, that it makes it convenient for them to be a district or town by themselves and will not hurt nor injure the respective towns from which they may be taken off. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your honors to take their case into your wise consideration and grant them relief by allow- ing them an incorporation with town privileges agreeably to the follow- ing limits and boundaries Beginning at the N. W. corner of lot No 50 of the village lots & so called in the line between said Lebanon and Hanover, from thence running south 23° West by the westerly line of said village lots until it comes to the Masquome river then turning and running up said river and crossing the same to the S. W. corner of lot No 26 on the southerly side of said river; from thence southerly on a strate line to the South West corner of lot No 9 on the Northerly side of Enfield Rhode; thence S. 72° E by said Enfield Rhode to the east line of Lebanon called the Freeman line and to continue the same course in said Enfield one mile and a half thence turning off and running N. 36° E. parilel with the town line until it comes to said river; thence up said river till it comes to the bridge standing on said river in Canaan from thence N 36° E so far as one mile and a quarter from Enfield north line; thence turning off and running N 64° W through part of Canaan and into the town of Hanover to the N E corner of lot No 13, and by the northerly line thereof and by the northerly line of three lots till it comes to No 17; thence turning off by said lots No 17, 18, 19 and to continue the same course till it comes to the line between Lebanon and Hanover and thence by said line to the bound begun at
Walter Peck Ebba Peck Nathan Blodgett David Hinkley Edm'd Freeman Gid. Baker
Daniel Swetland James Bellows
Jonathan Bingham
Abiel Willes
Elisha Payne Ephraim Brown
148
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
John Crowell David Stoddard Leonard Hoar Daniel Alden
Enoch Reddington Dearca Allen
Samuel Karr
Daniel Willes
Jeriah Swetland
Clapp Sumner Phineas Allen
The tract described above commenced on Hanover line, about a hundred rods westerly of the farm buildings of George Blodgett, striking the Mascoma a little west of Howard Benton's buildings; thence it passed up the river about a hundred rods, and from thence a straight line to the Alvah Bosworth farm, now occupied by Warren Daniell, intersecting the broad road laid through the town; thence on the line of that road to Enfield line, and the same course a mile and a half into the territory of Enfield; thence a northeasterly course, striking the Mascoma again in Canaan.
It will be seen that these lines would include East Lebanon and the village of Enfield. It should be remembered that at this time there were few buildings in the center of the town, and that the meeting-house was then in the neighborhood of Mrs. Alden's, while there was a large business done at East Lebanon. There is no doubt that Colonel Payne was the originator of this movement.
The Legislature refused to grant the prayer of the petitioners.
About this time there was another plan to divide the territory of Lebanon. The authorities of Dartmouth College wished to have entire control of the territory around the college and sought to have the territory granted by the proprietors of Lebanon, and a similar territory in Hanover, erected into a town or parish to be called Dresden, a name which Hanover Plain bore for many years.
The following papers have reference to this plan :
Objections against the incorporation of a part of Lebanon & Hanover in the county of Grafton into a distinct town.
1. The Freeholders of that part of Lebanon which is subject to taxa- tion, proposed to be taken into said corporation are unanimously opposed to such an Incorporation, that is those of them who reside in said Leba- non. Fourteen hundred and fifty acres are all the land exclusive of College Lands Lying in said Lebanon proposed to be taken in-thirteen hundred acres of which are owned by said resident Freeholders, and a
LUCINDA HOWE STORRS.
From painting by J. J. Jennys, June, 1802.
149
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
considerable part of one hundred forty acres remaining are owned by a Minor.
2 That the said resident Freeholders have done already their pro- portion for building up Dartmouth College, and they can see no reason why they should be subject to the authority of said College and their dependants. They have given one hundred and fifty acres of land, and in money and labor to the amount of fifteen pounds, altho but eight in number, and subject to those difficulties which generally attend those who settle a new country ; and if such an Incorporation should be made every vote would be carried according to the inclinations of the said authority; . who will always have a sufficient number of Dependants, to assist them in carrying any point, whereby the situation of said resident owners would be exceedingly uncomfortable
3 By such an Incorporation the said Freeholders will be excluded from all benefit of public rights, and ministerial and school privileges in said Lebanon. The public rights in s'd Lebanon are so far improved and disposed off that a considrable sum accrues to Lebanon from such improvements A minister is settled, a meeting house and several school-houses are built. From which benefit the said Freeholders would be excluded by such an Incorporation.
4 Many new roads must be built to accommodate such a town as is desired, whereas if the said Freeholders remain as they are in con- junction with Lebanon, the expense of said new roads will be saved.
5 That the said Incorporation will ever be greatly burdened with poor to maintain Dependants must be introduced and not warned out till they become a town charge
6 That the expense of maintaining town order will be great, & a very large part of that expense will fall upon the said Freeholders in proportion to their interest. The said Freeholders and the owners of double if not treble the land in said proposed township which will be subject to taxation, and the College will ever own stock and other ratiable property-whereby the s'd Freeholders are apprehensive that they shall be obliged to do a great, if not the greatest, part towards supporting the poor, and discharging other town expenses, which they feel unable ever to perform
7 That it would be unprecedented to separate [them] from a particu- lar corporation they had joined, without their consent either explicit or implicit.
to the Speaker of the house of Representatives of the state of New- hampshire now seting att Concord. Sir. Should thare be any moshun thursday Nex to see if the a Sembly will in corporate in to a Destinct town a Sarting track of Land Lying on Conocticut River so cauled Being part of Hanover and part of Lebanon by the name of Drisden. I Beg Sir you would in forme the Honorabel House that thare is a potishon or praer to s'd house not to encoporate in to a Destinct town the Lands potishiond for, last seting of a sembly-those that signed against in coperation owne more than one half the ratabol land
150
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
contand in the potishion for in corperation-yea, sir, and the house in generol are sensobel the coledg lands and of coledg are not taxt sir there is not much, if any more one hundred and seventy acers under Emprovement taxabel Lands in s'd tract potishond for incorperation. Sir we heard thare was an order of cort upon thare potishon that the matter should be heard and Reson shone if any why it should not be incorperated and that the order of cort should be published in the pub- lick papers we have no knoledg of the orders being complyed with- Sir the Reson of my troughbling you with this letter was I was Desired to a tend cort and see that the potishoners protest a gainst in corpera- tion Lade before the Honorobel House when I set out better than a fortenate a go from home expected to a Returned home time enough to a ben Down by the Day and Left the potishon with the signers-being wether bound find I cant comply with thare request. I feare they will have no opportunity to send thare potishon on with thare resons why they would wish not to be incoperated in to a Distinct town.
Sir tho yeu are a Stranger to me the stashon or place yeu stan in is sofishont Evedenc to me that yeu are a gentleman of vorosity and must feale for every Ingured Sufforer in the state in which asembly that you are the Speaker of that Body that we under God have no whare els to 0 look for help in matters of this nature
Sir if you think that we are not to poore to be Notist, having but small intrest Liabol to pay what ever is put upon us without Ever having a voice in Representation liabol to make and mend the Rodes threw all the coledg land without thare help which Rods are very bad and the few and poor inhabitans will be oblig to make and mend or suffer the penalty of Law for Not doing it that you will at least Con- tinue our trial or Delay incoperating said town untill the next Seshon att which time Hanover and Lebanon will be represented, as they are not know [now] as they consider it
If a Sembly under the consideration that we cant by Reson of the rods being Bloct and some other matters that the house ought to know upon oure trial that cant be Laid before the a sembly this seshon, if they in thare wisdom would give us heare ing att the nex seting we should think ourseves in Duty bound to pray
in behalf of signers
Decemb'r 20th 1783.
Gideon Tiffane a gainst in coperation of Dresden
The "a sembly" very properly denied the petition for the "incoperation" of Dresden. Whether because the House was convinced by the reasonings of the remonstrance or because the Hon. John Dudley, then the speaker of the House, being carried away by his compliment as a "gentleman of vorosity," threw his influence against it, is not known.
151
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
Feb 24 1783 Voted that Elijah Dewey Jun, Esq. Hyde and Maj Gris- wold be a committee to Draw a Letter in the name of the town, to be sent to Mr Aaron Hutchinson & be signed by the Town clerk, in behalf of the town.
The next reference to this matter is in May, 1783.
Voted to sit on that Clause in the warning respecting Aaron Hutchin- son. chose Messrs Elisha Ticknor Maj. John Griswold and Nathaniel Hall committee to make report.
The historian is unable to say what these records refer to. He guesses that it was a negotiation for Mr. Hutchinson to take up his residence in Lebanon as a lawyer.
March 11, 1783, after electing town officers for the year:
Voted to build a new Meeting House-that a Committee be chosen to draw a plan for the bigness of s'd House and compute the quantity of stuff sufficient to cover s'd House and lay the under floor Chose Maj John Griswold Hezekiah Waters David Hough committee for the pur- pose above said
March 26 of same year :
Voted to build a Meeting House near the Dwelling House of Elihu Hyde Esq. by the first day of Sept. 1784. Voted to build a Meeting House 60 feet in length 40 feet in breadth with 24 feet posts-that Simeon Peck Lemuel Hough and Hezakiah Waters be a Meeting, House committee and that they perfix a perticular spot for s'd House agree- able to above vote. ,
The spot pointed out above is on the hill where Henry Far- nam now lives.
The first meeting-house was at this time only about ten years old. But the southwestern portion of the town had increased more rapidly in numbers and demanded a location nearer to them, opposed, of course, by those in other parts of the town.
May 6 1783 Voted to Chefe a Member to attend the General Afsembly in June Next, with Inftructions, if our Grievances be taken of, then to take a Seat in S'd House otherwife to Return. Col. Elifha Paine was Chofen a Member to attend the Gener! Afsembly in New Hampfhire in June next. A committee was Chofen to draw Inftructions for the Member for the Afsembly & Report to the meeting
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